Niccolo Antonelli claimed the second Moto3 pole position of his career after a qualifying session marred by traffic at Brno. Despite earlier warnings that penalties would be handed out for slow riding during qualifying, many riders saw laps destroyed by others cruising ahead, although Antonelli found a clear lap in amongst the traffic to snatch pole from Danny Kent.
Understandably, Kent began the session as favourite for pole having topped the free practice times but the Estrella Galicia teammates had other ideas early in qualifying. Jorge Navarro clocked a 2:08.463 on his first run but his younger teammate was emerging as a serious threat to a potential maiden pole, going quicker at the halfway stage with a 2:08.020.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Kent took control with a 2:07.848 but any control disappeared out of the window on his last run with traffic dominating. While the championship leader was caught up with the Sky VR46 KTMs of Romano Fenati and Andrea Migno, Navarro ghosted back to the top with a 2:07.700. As the chequered flag flew, Kent finally found himself enough clear tarmac to set a representative lap time, taking him back ahead of Navarro, but Antonelli had usurped the pair of them with a 2:07.667.
Quartararo will head the second row ahead of 2014 Brno winner Alexis Masbou while Brad Binder leads the Red Bull KTM Ajo challenge in sixth, one place ahead of teammate and home favourite Karel Hanika. John McPhee built on his maiden podium last weekend with a top ten qualifying result but Enea Bastianini looks unlikely to make up further ground in the title chase after qualifying down in fifteenth.
MOTO3 bwin GRAND PRIX ČESKÉ REPUBLIKY: QUALIFYING RESULT
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